Heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger such as a radiator or other cooling machine which utilizes an inlet fluid tank and an outlet fluid tank having a heat exchanging core located therebetween and in fluid communication therewith, and in which the tanks and core are mounted within a main frame. One of the tanks is fixed to the frame while the other is mounted on the frame for relative movement therewith whereby the core is prevented from being damaged due to any relative movement as sometimes occurs between the core and the main frame.

United States Patent 1 Young 1 Jan. 16,1973

1541 HEAT EXCHANGER [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Young Radiator Company, Racine,

Wis.

[22] Filed: March 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 127,616

Fred M. Young, Racine, Wis.

3,627,035 12/1971 Astrup ..165/81 Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Att0rney-James E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A heat exchanger such as a radiator or other cooling machine which utilizes an inlet fluid tank and an outlet fluid tank having a heat exchanging core located therebetween and in fluid communication therewith,

I and in which the tanks and core are mounted within a main frame. One of the tanks is fixed to the frame while the other is mounted on the frame for relative movement therewith whereby the core is prevented from being damaged due to any relative movement as sometimes occurs between the core and the main frame.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 16 1975 3.710.853

sum 2 or 3 v 6 INVENTOR.

-1 F FRED M. YOUNG Armmvey PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 SHEET 3 OF 3 mll m n a I a l I l u I INVEN'IOR. FRED VOUNG Arromve/ HEAT EXCHANGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to heat exchangers such as radiators or other cooling machines and in which a pair of tanks have a heat exchanging core located between them. The cores are usually of a relatively fragile nature and fabricated from non-ferrous materials, for example, a series of fluid conducting tubes having fragile fins soldered thereto. The tubes in turn are in fluid communication at each end with headers and the headers are connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet tank and an outlet tank. It is important that these tubes and particularly their fusion bonded connections with the headers are not damaged. The frame of such a radiator is usually fabricated from steel and the coefficient of expansion of the frame is therefore different than that of the core, consequently resulting in different amounts of contraction or expansion, and causing shifting of the core relative to the frame when the radiator is in use. The temperature of the fluid passing through the core varies considerably, depending on the heat of the power plant being cooled by the fluid, thus causing considerable expansion or contraction of the core as compared to the frame. Furthermore, these radiators often utilize a fan for blowing cooling air over the core and this further causes differences in expansion and contraction between the core and frame (even though the core and frame may be made of the same material), because of the cooling air blows only past the relatively light core and not appreciably over the heavy frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a heat exchanger having a rigid frame and also haveing a pair of tanks mounted in the frame with a heat exchanger core located between and in fluid communication with the tanks. The arrangement is such that one of the tanks is fixed to the frame while the other tank has a connection with the frame that permits relative shifting between that tank and the frame. Consequently, as the core either expands or contracts, it carries with it that tank which is shiftably mounted relative to the frame, thereby preventing core distortion and damage. More specifically, the invention provides a heat exchanger of the above type in which the core has a header at each of its opposite ends, the headers having fluid connections bolted rigidly to their adjacent tanks.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevational view ofa radiator embodying the present invention, showing a portion of the radiator broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the radiator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one portion of the core section assembly of the radiator as shown in FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale, and with certain portions broken away and in section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the core section assembly shown in FIG. 3, certain parts being broken away and in section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section, of a portion of the radiator shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the FIG. 5 showing, the view being taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention has been shown and described as applied to a large radiator R of the type used on heavy vehicles, such as large earth moving trucks (not shown), but the invention is of course also used for other installations, such as, for example, with stationary power plants.

The radiator R includes a rigid frame F usually fabricated from steel, an upper tank T, a lower tank TL, and a core C located between the tanks and having an upper header H and a lower header HL in fluid communication therewith and also with tanks T and TL, respectively.

The invention will be shown and described as having upper and lower tanks, but the tanks may be disposed otherwise, for example, vertically at either side of the cores, as is conventional practice.

The core C is of the type which is usually fabricated from non-ferrous metals and includes a series of vertically disposed tubes 1 which are in fluid communication at their upper ends with the upper fluid header H and at their lower ends with the lower fluid header I-IL. The headers have a rigid fluid connection with their adjacent tank, for example, an elbow 5 is welded to the upper header over the opening 6 and is rigidly but detachably secured to a vertical flange 7 of the upper tank by means of bolt means 8.

Similarly, the lower ends of the tubes 1 of the core are bonded to and in fluid communication with the lower header I-IL, which header in turn is in fluid communication with the lower tank TL by means of the elbow 10. A series of rather fragile fins 12 are secured to the tubes in spaced relation, in the known manner.

In the illustration shown, the radiator is comprised of six core section assemblies CA, of similar headers and tubes.

The tanks both extend generally across the width of the frame F and the lower tank TL is rigidly secured to the side members of the frame by a bolt means 14. TankTL has a fluid outlet 15, and tank T has a recirculating inlet 15a which is located in the lower chamber 21 for returning the cooling fluid from the power plant (not shown) being cooled by the radiator. Flexible conduits (not shown) are connected to outlet 15 and inlet 15a so as to accommodate movement between the tanks and the other parts of the mounting.

Diagonally crossed rods 16 and 17 are secured to the lower ends of the frame members and also to the upper ends of the frame members. It will be noted that the cross brace rods 16, I7 rigidify the frame and lower tank structure but do not interfer with the upper tank T or its connection with the frame.

The radiator also. has a fan mounting shaft 18 (FIG. 2) located centrally at its rear side, and a shroud 19 also at the rear side.

The upper tank has an upper air chamber 20 into which a vertically disposed filler pipe 22 extends.

The upper tank T, in accordance with the present invention is free to float, that is to say, it is free to rise and fall in respect to the frame, such movement occurring due to the greater expansion and contraction of the core relative to the frame.

The upper tank is mounted for shifting relative to the frame as follows. A series of threaded studs 23 are welded to the two opposite sides of the tank T and these studs extend outwardly through vertical slots 24 in the two opposite side frame members 25. Nuts 26 then threadably engage the threaded studs 23 up to the shoulders 27 of the studs so that the nuts are not sufficiently tightened to prevent the upper tank from shifting vertically relative to the side members 25.

In this manner, the lower tank TL, carrying the weight of the core, is fixed relative to the frame and the upper tank T floats or moves vertically as the core expands and contracts relative to the frame.

I claim 1. A heat exchanger comprising; a frame, a first tank, a second tank, a heat exchanging core between said tanks and having a fluid communication with said first tank and also having a conduit connection with said second tank, one of said tanks being fixed to said frame, and connecting means between the other of said tanks and said frame for permitting relative movement between the other of said tanks and said frame.

2. The heat exchanger set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said core has a fluid header at each end thereof and a series of tubes between and in fluid communication with said headers, said headers are being rigidly secured to their adjacent tank, and in fluid communication between each of said tanks and their respective headers.

3. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said connecting means between the other of said tanks and said frame includes a bolt means and slot connection therebetween whereby said bolt means can slide in said slot.

4. A radiator comprising; a frame, an upper tank, a lower tank, a heat exchanging core between said tanks and having a fluid communication with each of said tanks, said lower tank being fixed to said frame, and connecting means between said upper tank and said frame for permitting relative movement'between said upper tank and said frame.

5. The radiator set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said core has a fluid header at each end thereof and a series of tubes between and in fluid communication with said headers, said headers are being rigidly secured to their adjacent tank, and in fluid communication between each of said tanks and their respective headers.

6. A radiator as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said connecting means between said upper tank and said frame includes a bolt means and slot connection therebetween whereby said bolt means can slide in said slot. 

1. A heat exchanger comprising; a frame, a first tank, a second tank, a heat exchanging core between said tanks and having a fluid communication with said first tank and also having a conduit connection with said second tank, one of said tanks being fixed to said frame, and connecting means between the other of said tanks and said frame for permitting relative movement between the other of said tanks and said frame.
 2. The heat exchanger set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said core has a fluid header at each end thereof and a series of tubes between and in fluid communication with said headers, said headers are being rigidly secured to their adjacent tank, and in fluid communication between each of said tanks and their respective headers.
 3. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said connecting means between the other of said tanks and said frame includes a bolt means and slot connection therebetween whereby said bolt means can slide in said slot.
 4. A radiator comprising; a frame, an upper tank, a lower tank, a heat exchanging core between said tanks and having a fluid communication with each of said tanks, said lower tank being fixed to said frame, and connecting means between said upper tank and said frame for permitting relative movement between said upper tank and said frame.
 5. The radiator set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said core has a fluid header at each end thereof and a series of tubes between and in fluid communication with said headers, said headers are being rigidly secured to their adjacent tank, and in fluid communication between each of said tanks and their respective headers.
 6. A radiator as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said connecting means between said upper tank and said frame includes a bolt means and slot connection therebetween whereby said bolt means can slide in said slot. 